Prevention is better than cure for Lyme's Disease Prevention is better than cure for Lyme's Disease Content Editor: Dr. Siddharth Singh May 10, 2023 CDC Vector Borne Diseases Tick bites causes multiple diseases especially Lyme's Disease. Around 30,000 infections are annually reported in USA and 3000-5000 in India. The most common exposure route is through trekking, gardening, camping or even playing outside , where the chances of being bitten by a Black-Legged Tick is high. There are a few ways to protect ourselves from Tick bites:- Tick resides in humid and moist environment, so always try to walk in the middle of the trail and avoid trespassing through any thick vegetation. Use skin repellents using appropriate chemical insecticide for topical use or infused in clothing; Chemicals includes permethrin, DEET, picardin etc. Daily Tick checks via visible inspection at certain body parts like under the arms, in and around ears, inside the belly button, back of the knees, in and around all head and body hair, between the legs and around the waist; Check for clothing and pets as well. If a Tick is found attached to any surface, remove carefully with a fine-tipped tweezers. Unexpected summer fever or odd rash with a travel history in Tick habitat may be an early sign of Lyme's Disease. Consult a healthcare provider at the earliest. Use chemical control agents on pets to control ticks.

Nine years of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan: Advancing accessibility for all Content Editor: Dr Anamika December 10, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, Accessible India Campaign, Inclusivity, Disability The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, launched on December 3, 2015, aims to create an inclusive society for people with disabilities. As it continues under the Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA ), India reaffirms its commitment to ensuring equal opportunities and independence for all citizens. It focuses on accessible infrastructure, transport, and ICT, with efforts like retrofitting 1,748 government buildings and making 709 railway stations fully accessible. Since its launch, it has enhanced accessibility as follows: It has improved digital accessibility, with 95 central and 676 state websites made accessible. The Indian Sign Language Research Centre has trained over 1,000 individuals. Media accessibility has expanded with accessible TV content. It transitioned into SIPDA for ongoing accessibility improvements. Key initiatives include accessible pilgrimage sites, web accessibility training, and enhanced funding for empowerment. Click here to read more. Previous Next

Expansion of Ayushman Bharat programme Content Editor: Dr. Nikhil Kumar Khatri July 28, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Public Health laws and regulations, Ayushman Bharath, Health and Wellness Centres The AB-HWCs programme, with over 1.6 lakh centers and 178.87 crore beneficiaries , is undergoing its largest service expansion yet. The expansion will include Screening, prevention, and management of non-communicable diseases. Management of common ophthalmic and ENT problems. Basic oral health care. Palliative and elderly care A new cadre of Community Health Officers will be introduced at the secondary centers. Expansion of the list of essential drugs and diagnostics. The CPHC and wellness package will include yoga, zumba, meditation, diet counseling, marathons, cyclothons The centers are being encouraged to undergo the National Quality Assurance Standards assessment and certification with a target of 50% by 2026. Previous Next

Examining women's empowerment: Insights from the WE-CHANT study Examining women's empowerment: Insights from the WE-CHANT study Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay April 16, 2024 Indian Journal of Community Medicine Women empowerment, Decision making Women’s empowerment is complex, with agency, resources, and achievement as key pillars. WE-CHANT study conducted in rural West Bengal focused on women’s empowerment, child health, and nutrition. Data was collected through two-stage sampling, employing exploratory factor analysis to construct the Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI). A 12-item Women's Empowerment Index (WEI) was constructed, focusing on 3 major domains. Decision-making power, Attitude toward gender-based violence (GBY) Social independence. Decision-making power emerged as the most influential predictor in rural West Bengal, consistent with previous research. The study excluded variables related to resources and achievements, focusing on empowerment. Social desirability and misclassification biases were addressed through female data collectors and confidentiality assurance. The social independence domain focused on freedom of social interactions, excluding measures like access to media and mobile phones for simplicity. The findings emphasized the importance of decision-making in women's empowerment in rural West Bengal. Click here to read more.

Ixchiq - The first vaccine approved for Chikungunya virus Ixchiq - The first vaccine approved for Chikungunya virus Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti November 22, 2023 US Food & Drug Administration Vaccination, Chikungunya, Clinical Trial, Vector-borne diseases The US FDA approved Ixchiq as the first vaccine against the Chikungunya virus for the 18-year-old and above age group. Chikungunya is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and America. Its threat is not only restricted to the acute symptoms but also to the chronic debilitating complications and fatal infection in newborns following mother-to-child transmission. The FDA approved the vaccine using the Accelerated Approval pathway based on Phase III clinical trial data. Six months after vaccination, the live-attenuated, single-dose vaccine demonstrated 96.3% seropositivity. The trial reported severe adverse reactions in some participants. It awaits a postmarketing trial to determine the seriousness of the reactions.

Superbug Fungus isolated in stray dogs in Delhi Content Editor: Dr. Subhana Siyad July 25, 2023 at 8:29:12 AM Multi drug resistance, Zoonosis, Outbreak, One health Candida auris, an emerging multi-drug resistant yeast (fungus) responsible for life-threatening global outbreaks, has been isolated from the ear canals and skin surface of hospitalized stray dogs in Delhi. Researchers from the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, Ramjas College, and Delhi University studied skin and ear swab samples of 52 stray and 35 domesticated dogs hospitalized at Delhi's Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre, 4 of which showed evidence of the fungus. It is yet unknown how transmission occurs between dogs and humans and the clinical implications of this. According to the study, pets may serve as superbug reservoirs, potentially spreading diseases to people. The study observed that C. auris had been found outside hospitals in tidal marshes, hypersaline environments, and wastewater, indicating that this yeast can endure harsh conditions. The CDC and WHO have classified C. auris, which was originally discovered in Japan in 2009, as an urgent threat and a critical priority group, respectively, since some strains are difficult to identify and resistant to all three classes of antifungals, which can result in improper management and outbreaks. Previous Next

Spot open for a lead consultant at MOHFW Content Editor: Dr. Sangya Chaudhary May 29, 2023 at 4:04:04 PM MoHFW, Job Opportunities • The National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) is recruiting a Lead Consultant for its Community Processes/Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CP/CPHC) Division on a contractual basis . • The position involves working with a team to strengthen primary health systems and improve health service delivery in India with responsibility for policy formulation, program support, research, and implementation in the CP/CPHC Division . • Qualifications required include an MBBS/BDS with a postgraduate degree or Diploma/Masters in Public Health/Epidemiology , along with at least 10 years of experience in health program implementation. • The consultant will be based in New Delhi with travel to states and districts. • The contract duration is 2 years, with the possibility of extension based on performance. Remuneration ranges from Rs 1,30,000/- to Rs 1,70,000/- per month , along with additional benefits. • The application should be submitted online through the NHSRC website by May 30, 2023. Previous Next

Mental Health Assistance in Shelter Homes Mental Health Assistance in Shelter Homes Content Editor: Dr Jasmin Nilima Panda March 24, 2023 Press Information Bureau Mental Health, Maternal and Child Health The Ministry of Women and Child Development has implemented various schemes for providing shelter homes, medical care and mental health counselling to the underprivileged women and children. Shakti Sadan : an Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation Home for women in difficult circumstances, formed by the combination of Swadhar Greh & Ujjawala Homes . Mission Vatsalya Scheme : support is provided to States and UT Governments for delivering services for children in difficult circumstances. Child Care Institutions (CCIs) are established to monitor & support age-appropriate education, vocational training, recreation, health care, counselling etc to both urban and rural children. The scheme supports 1098, a 24x7 outreach toll-free child helpline and the setting up of a Suggestion Box for complaints and redressal for children. SAMVAD : Support, Advocacy & Mental Health Interventions for Children in Vulnerable Circumstances and Distress established jointly by MoWCD and NIMHANS(in 2020) provides training, guidance and technical support to child protection functionaries working in children’s shelter homes. One Stop Centre(OSCs) : provides medical aids, psycho-social counselling, police facilitation, legal aid, etc. for the distressed women. Under the Stree Manoraksha project , these staff are trained to handle the psycho-social and mental health care needs of women facing violence and distress.

Chad battles its first-ever Dengue outbreak Chad battles its first-ever Dengue outbreak Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy October 31, 2023 WHO Disease outbreak news Disease outbreak, Public health, Global health, WHO, Communicable diseases The 2023 dengue outbreak in Chad is the country's first encounter with the disease. The serotype responsible hasn't been confirmed yet. The age group of 15 to 34 years old accounts for 27% of the confirmed cases, making them the most impacted by this outbreak. With assistance from the WHO, the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention has launched several significant response initiatives, as follows: Mobilizing resources and managing logistics of drugs and samples Enhancing entomological surveillance, active case finding, and in-depth epidemiological investigations Developing SOPs for the treatment of suspected and confirmed dengue cases Community mobilization to spread essential knowledge about dengue transmission and management, including integrated vector control strategies

Does Morel mushroom exposure cause gastrointestinal illness? Does Morel mushroom exposure cause gastrointestinal illness? Content Editor: Dr. Soundhar March 30, 2024 Center for Disease Control Public health outbreak, International health news. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (MTDPHHS) and Gallatin City County Health Department (GCCHD), with the support of the CDC, conducted a case-control study to identify illnesses that are associated with food and to assess the dose-response relationship. Questionnaire data were collected by state and county health department staff members using Jotform software, and those deidentified were sent for analysis to CDC, where matched and unmatched logistic regression analysis was conducted using SAS software. The odds of consuming a special sushi roll with morel mushrooms among cases were 15.78 times higher than those of control patients and 10.77 times higher among cases for eating any morels. The FDA has published information on morels and other mushrooms that can be cultivated. The MTDPHHS and GCCHD gave recommendations on proper storage and preparation to reduce the illness risk. Findings from the investigation suggested uncooked or undercooked morel mushrooms were the source of the outbreak and there was a clear association between the consumption of morels and gastrointestinal illness.